Recovery at work is just good business

Did you know?

the longer a worker is away from work, the less likely they are to ever return

an unnecessary delay in returning to work is often associated with delayed recovery

staying active after injury reduces pain symptoms and helps workers return to their usual activities at work and home sooner.

Under NSW workers compensation legislation, employers have an obligation to support their worker to recover at and/or return to work.

The benefits to your business

Helping your worker to recover at work may reduce the financial impact on your business and enables you to:

maintain the skills and knowledge of an experienced worker

reduce the cost of training a replacement worker

demonstrate to all workers that they are valued employees

maintain good employer-employee relationships

reduce the length of time your workers are away from work

avoid the cost of hiring new staff

comply with your legislative obligations.

How we can help

The State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) has a number of vocational rehabilitation programs to help your worker recover at work without putting your business under financial strain. These programs include:

return to work assist for micro employers

equipment and workplace modification

work trials

training.

The cost of vocational rehabilitation programs are funded by SIRA. They are not a claims cost and do not affect premiums.

Read on for a quick guide to these vocational programs.

Return to work assist for micro employers

This program reduces the financial burden of helping workers return to work. A workplace rehabilitation provider will help identify suitable work and develop a recover at work plan for your worker. The insurer will continue to pay your worker for up to six weeks while they participate in the program.

This allows you to pay overtime or employ a casual worker with the money saved on your worker’s wages, so you can keep things going while they recover.

Who is eligible?Micro employers (five or less staff with a premium tariff of $30,000 or less) financially unable to offer suitable work in the first 13 weeks after the injury may may be eligible.

This program provides work-based opportunities for your worker to upgrade their capacity, develop skills, and/or gain on the job experience with a host employer where you are unable to provide suitable work.

A workplace rehabilitation provider conducts a workplace assessment to match the capacity of the trainee (worker) to the essential requirements of the job, and assess their ability to perform the tasks safely.

Who is eligible?Workers with capacity for work, who are receiving or entitled to receive weekly payments, and have not accepted a commutation or work injury damages settlement.

Employers holding a current workers compensation policy, with no current employment relationship to the trainee or the pre-injury employer.

Training can help your worker develop new skills and qualifications to change roles within your organisation or to get a new job. It may involve formal study with TAFE, university or a registered training organisation.

Course fees and associated expenses (eg textbooks, stationery, travel and accommodation) may also be covered.

Who is eligible?Workers receiving/entitled to receive weekly payments under the 1987 Act.

Applications for training should address the program principles (refer to the SIRA website).